Chapter 19

Victoria Lowell jolted awake at his voice.

She hastily shoved her phone into her purse, her gaze evasive. "Nothing important. Just an insurance salesman."

"Hmm." Richard Lowell frowned but was too preoccupied with casting decisions to press further.

"Let's go. Sophia's being stubborn now, but she'll come crawling back once she hits a wall with the Valdemars."

With the infighting at Valdemar Holdings, her position as the young madam wouldn't last.

When Pearl Entertainment inevitably collapsed, she'd return begging for forgiveness.

William Lowell stormed ahead, his face dark.

His fists clenched until his nails bit into his palms.

That ungrateful sister of his had humiliated him publicly.

Once he secured the Pearl Group deal, he'd make Sophia kneel before him.

Whatever sibling affection remained had curdled into pure hatred.

Victoria watched her husband and eldest son's retreating backs, her heart pounding.

That lawyer's call had doused her in ice water.

The embezzlement accusation—nine million—left her hands numb with dread.

They could never find out.

She needed to consult Emily first.

"Richard," she stopped abruptly, "I'd like to visit Emily."

He flipped through a script without looking up. "She's preparing for that variety show with Nathan. I'm heading to the office—we can go together."

She'd already heard about Emily joining "The Voice." "Alright."

William's voice was icy. "I'll go ahead."

He couldn't wait to convene an emergency meeting.

If Pearl Group wanted to play hardball, he'd show them real ruthlessness.

At Westmount Villa, Sophia inclined her head slightly to the steward.

"Thank you for today."

The steward, sharp-eyed as a hawk yet unusually gentle with her, bowed. "You honor us, madam. This is our duty."

She smiled faintly.

"Shall I give you a tour of the villa?"

It was her first official stay.

"Please."

They walked through spacious corridors.

"All areas are open to you except the study."

Sophia understood. "Of course."

Alexander's private domain wasn't somewhere she'd intrude.

As Sophia explored her new home, alarms blared through the sanatorium.

Dr. George Whitmore stared at Alexander's brain scans, urgently summoning his medical team.